Aydin Seref Koksal

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with Billroth II gastroenterostomy

Background and Aim:  Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is more complicated in patients with Billroth II gastroenterostomy (B II GE) especially in those associated with Braun anastomosis (BA). The aim of the present study was to review experience of ERCP in patients with B II GE.

Endoscopic treatment of pancreatic fistulas.

BackgroundPancreatic fistulas are managed primarily by conservative treatment. Surgery is performed in cases of conservative treatment failure. Endoscopic treatment is reported to be both effective and safe as an alternative treatment method.MethodsA total of 26 patients underwent endoscopic treatment after failure of conservative treatment between January 2002 and November 2004. The mean time between the onset of fistula and the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure was 95 days. The mean fistula output volume was 400 ml per day. Four patients had pancreatic ascites. The aim of the endoscopic treatment was to bypass the ductal disruption by placing stents or drains where the origin of fistulous tract could be identified, and to lower the pancreatic duct pressure by performing pancreatic sphincterotomy or by placing stents where the site of the leak could not be identified.ResultsPancreatography could be performed in all the patients except one. Partial duct disruption occurred in 16 patients. All of the fistulas closed after the ductal disruption was bypassed. Pancreatic sphincterotomy or endoprothesis placement was effective for eight of the remaining nine patients in whom the ductal disruption originated from the tail of the pancreas and hence could not be bypassed. The overall success rate was 94% for the patients with partial duct disruption. Four patients had side branch leaks. All of them closed after placement of an endoprothesis. Fistulas closed in only one (20%) of the five patients with complete duct disruption. Pancreatic ascites resolved in two of the four patients after endoscopic treatment. No serious complications resulted from endoscopic treatment other than proximally migrated stents in two patients.ConclusionsEndoscopic treatment is an effective and safe method for patients with pancreatic fistulas unresponsive to conservative treatment. The success rate is very high, especially for patients with partial and side branch duct disruption.

Evaluation of intrapulmonary vascular dilatations with high-resolution computed thorax tomography in patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Goals: We aimed to determine the role of thorax high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in demonstrating the pulmonary vasodilatation in patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). Background: Traditionally, the presence of intrapulmonary vascular dilatations can be detected by using one of the three diagnostic modalities: contrast-enhanced echocardiography, technetium 99 m-labeled macroaggregated albumin scan, and pulmonary angiography. Study: The study group included 10 patients with HPS (Group 1), 12 patients with normoxemic cirrhosis (Group 2), and 12 healthy controls (Group 3). All of the subjects underwent conventional and HRCT of thorax. The diameters of pulmonary trunk, main pulmonary arteries, and right lower lobe basal segmental arteries were measured. The ratios of right lower lobe basal segmental pulmonary artery to bronchus diameter were calculated. Results: The mean diameters of the main pulmonary trunk, right and left main pulmonary arteries were not different between the groups. Mean diameters of right lower lobe basal segmental pulmonary arteries were significantly higher in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (P = 0.01) and Group 3 (P = 0.002). Mean right lower lobe basal segmental pulmonary artery to bronchus ratios were significantly higher in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (P = 0.03) and Group 3 (P < 0.001). Group 2 had significantly higher pulmonary artery to bronchus ratios than Group 3 (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Thorax HRCT may be helpful in the diagnosis of HPS by demonstrating the dilated peripheral pulmonary vessels or increased pulmonary artery to bronchus ratios in patients with liver disease and hypoxemia.

Squamous cell cancer of the liver arising from an epidermoid cyst: case report and review of the literature.

Solitary benign nonparasitic hepatic cysts (SBNHC) are congenital cysts which are generally lined with a columnar epithelium resembling that of bile duct epithelium or a single layer of cuboidal epithelium or, in rare cases, with squamous epithelium (1, 2). Although they are more frequently identified with the advent of improvements in imaging modalities, their exact incidence is unknown (3). Epidermoid cysts are an exceedingly rare type of congenital cysts of the liver which are characterized by a fibrous wall entirely lined with a stratified squamous epithelium (4). Primary squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the liver are rarely seen hepatic neoplasms. The development of an SCC from a SBNHC is extremely rare. Differential diagnosis of epidermoid cysts of the liver, which can closely mimic hydatid cysts in imaging modalities, is difficult. Also, it is hard to document the neoplastic transformation to an SCC, which is associated with a rapid progression and grave prognosis. Here we present the fourth case of an SCC of the liver arising from an epidermoid cyst, which closely resembled a hydatid cyst. In this case the SCC was associated with an increase in serum CA 19-9 levels for the first time.

Ranitidine bismuth citrate‐based triple therapies as a second‐line therapy for Helicobacter pylori in Turkish patients

Background: Quadruple therapy with a proton pump inhibitor, bismuth, metronidazole and tetracycline is recommended as the optimal second‐line therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Maastricht Consensus Report. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the efficacy of ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC)‐based regimens as second‐line therapies after failure of the standard Maastricht triple therapy.

Can Serum ST2 Levels Be Used as a Marker of Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

AbstractInterleukin 33 (IL-33) is a cytokine belonging to the IL-1 superfamily. Soluble ST2 (sST2) binds to IL-33 and by functioning as trap receptor inhibits signal sending to Th2 via transmembrane ST2. Because Th2-type cytokines play an important role in fibrosis, the aim of this study is to determine whether sST2 can be used as a marker of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients or not.The study included 19 healthy controls, 54 patients with CHB, and 14 patients with cirrhosis because of CHB. The aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis index based on the 4 factors (FIB-4) scores also calculated, and correlations between liver biopsies, sST2 levels, and these scores were analyzed in CHB and cirrhosis patients.The sST2 levels in patients with CHB were significantly higher than those in the control group subjects (median: 1133 pg/mL vs 762.5 pg/mL, respectively [P = 0.035]). In CHB patients, the METAVIR fibrosis score (stages from 0 to 4) showed a moderate correlation with serum sST2 level (r = 0.396, P = 0.004) and a weak correlation with FIB-4 score (r = 0.359, P = 0.008), but no correlation with APRI score (r = 0.253, P = 0.06). The under the curve value of serum sST2 was 0.68, and its prediction of significant fibrosis (METAVIR score ≥2) in values >674 pg/mL had a sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 40% (P = 0.009). According to multiple logistic regression analysis, only METAVIR fibrosis stage was found to be an independent predictor of serum sST2 elevation in CHB patients (P = 0.04).The sST2 level can be used for differentiating significant fibrosis from mild fibrosis in CHB patients. However, the efficacy of this marker should be verified by larger studies in the future.

Management of biliary anastomotic strictures after liver transplantation

Biliary strictures constitute 40% to 60% of the biliary complications after liver transplantation. They are more common after living donor related liver transplantation (LDLT) than orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Balloon dilation followed by multiple plastic stent insertion leads to a mean resolution rate of 84% in the treatment of ASs after OLT. Endoscopic treatment of ASs after LDLT is more difficult because of the small size of the ASs, their multiple number and peripheral location. Balloon dilation followed by multiple plastic stent insertion had a mean resolution rate of 53%. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was required in 16% to 44% of the patients. Refractory cases with complete biliary obstruction and severe stenosis, in whom the stricture could not be traversed with a guidewire, can be treated by magnetic compression anastomosis as a rescue therapy, if the anatomy of the bile ducts is suitable. In this review, we will focus on the endoscopic treatment of ASs, with special emphasis to refractory cases.

Serous Cystadenoma of the Pancreas Presenting as a Third Primary Neoplasm

Serous cystadenomas are the most common cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. They may occur solely or coexist with other neoplasms. A 10 cm mass involving the body of the pancreas was observed in the computed tomography of a 61-year-old man with a previous history of bladder and prostate carcinoma. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the mass demonstrated multiple small cysts associated with a central calcified scar. A distal pancreatectomy was performed. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of serous microcystic adenoma. This is the first report of a serous cystadenoma of the pancreas with two metachronous neoplasms. This feature should be kept in mind during the diagnosis and evaluation of patients with serous cystadenoma.

Pulmonary Manifestations among Patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Abstract Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic progressive cholestatic liver disease caused by diffuse inflammation, destruction and fibrosis of the intrahepatic bile ducts, ultimately leading to cirrhosis, portal hypertension and liver failure. The pathogenesis of PBC is incompletely understood, but current data suggest roles for genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. PBC is often thought of as an organ-specific autoimmune disease, which mainly targets the liver; however, lung tissue is also a site for autoimmune involvement of PBC. The pulmonary manifestations of PBC include abnormalities in gas transfer and pulmonary function, subclinical alveolitis, interstitial lung disease, granulomatous lung disease, airway disease, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hemorrhage and pleural effusion.

Immunosuppressive therapy and the risk of hepatitis B reactivation: Consensus report

This consensus report includes expert opinions and recommendations regarding the screening, and if necessary, the follow-up, prophylaxis, and treatment of hepatitis B before the treatment in patients who will undergo immunosuppressive therapy due to an emergency risk of hepatitis B reactivation. To increase awareness regarding the risk of hepatitis B reactivation in immunosuppressive patients, academicians from several university health research and training centers across Turkey came together and discussed the importance of the subject, current status, and issues in accordance with the current literature data and presented solutions.